prettysleeved1

I am officially 6 weeks post-op today. I lost 5 pounds between today and last Monday. I'm at the post-surgical point where I am allowed to eat whatever I want except raw vegetables and I wanted Chinese food; namely sweet and sour chicken. Since this dish is usually batter dipped and fried, going to the local Chinese restaurant wasn't really an option (I vowed not to consciously go off plan until 6 months out). So, I diced some chicken cutlets and stir-fried them using Pam and a little olive oil. For sweet and sour sauce, I just made my own. The recipe I used is pretty good for those of us watching our carbs. The recipe makes so much that you shouldn't have to worry about the carb load unless you plan on using the whole yield in one setting. Plus it's thinner than the kind in the restaurants so you're really just getting a light flavoring instead of a sugary, bulky condiment that sticks to your chicken. Today, we grilled shrimp, swordfish, and hamburger patties. We used the sweet and sour sauce and Tai curry seasonings for them. Not being able to eat raw fruit and vegetables is bugging me so I threw some pineapple on the grill because I needed something other than meat. The upside is that I can only eat four shrimp and about an eighth of a the hamburger patty so we have food for days now. Anyway, it's a beautiful day today so get out and do something; even if it's just sitting on your porch.

Where was she bragging?

Another issue could be the amount. I think our parents and grandparents had it right when they made us eat cooked food at home more than eating out. These children are spending their formative years on McDonald's, hot Cheetos and milkshakes and by the time they start school, the damage is apparent. I taught Kindergarten and they were already totally zombie'd (coined) out. The food you eat, fuels your brain. I had a student with Asperger's that was really bright and was able to function reasonably well, but after lunch (school lunch), it was like he was in a parallel universe. Once he had to take his afternoon pill...terrible. Part of the problem is that doctors don't really learn anything fecund about nutrition outside of what we all were taught when we were in 1st grade. The worst part is that there are bunches of people getting rich off of it (ie. pharmaceutical industry). Back to conspiracy mode, the better foods are usually in the more affluent areas. I'm fortunate that I live down the street from a Whole Foods, a produce market, and another holistic grocery store. But, there are people who don't and are being shortchanged because of it. Even Wal-Mart is shameful (which is why I avoid it). If I had it my way, fast food would be the most expensive food item one could purchase; not fresh meat and produce. The Big Mac would be $20.

Ya'll know what? I used to teach years ago and I always told my co-worker that there must be something in the food because children these days are different emotionally and intellectually. It had gotten to the point where I could tell a student, "take this paper and put it in the trash" and by the time they walk to the trash can, they've forgotten what they're supposed to do with the paper. They are having trouble focusing, learning, with fine motor skills, I am not exaggerating. I also have to wonder where all of these developmental issues are coming from all of a sudden. I'm only 31 and when I was in school, we didn't hear about ADD/ADHD/Autism. The main issues when I was growing up were Down Syndrome and physical disabilities. We already know our food supply is more chemicals than food these days and I'd really like to see some research on the issue. While I think that these diseases have a long history, I have to wonder why they went from being rare to rather prevalent.

Based on my own body chemistry, I count carbs. Carbs hate me so I have to watch out for those mofo's.

Sounds like they have a problem keeping their paperwork together.

I've had Louisiana hot sauce and it didn't bother me but it was hotter than I remember it being.

:lol: And on that note, it's time for the collection plate. Ahhhhhhhh-meeeeen.

Sweet baby jesus on the mountaintop...

Are you active? I ask because inactivity will make you more tired.

Girl.... Nevermind.

I just PM'd you.

Yes, I will. Give me about an hour.

Today I am 5w 1d post-op. I'm feeling great and am back to full activity. There are no more aches and pains and I've finally managed to regularly get in over 90g of protein without reliance on protein shakes. At three weeks, I hit the dreaded stall but continued to lose inches. It was a little disconcerting for me to be in that position. Of course, inches are great but when I go to the doctor, they don't measure my waist, they weigh me to see if I'm on track. Nonetheless, I was prepared for it and had already made up my mind what I would do when it came. The stall broke today so for 15 days, I was at the same weight. In those 15 days: I increased my protein to between 90-115g per day. I increased my water to at least 84oz. per day. I increased the length and intensity of my workouts. My total calories increased to around 850. I increased my intake of carbohydrates. As I said, I'm doing a good job of weaning myself off of protein shakes. Some would say that it's too soon but I'd rather get my protein through food than a shake. I've found myself in a predicament where I have to eat something every three hours anyway so I just get the protein in at each small meal (about 5 per day). My go-to sources are chicken, fish, shrimp, very lean ground beef, ground turkey, and low-fat cheeses. Increasing my water was the hardest part because water temporarily fills me up so it takes longer than I'd like to get all my water in (and I'm past the sipping stage). However, if we jump into the Way Back Machine and go back to high school physiology class, we remember that we need water to metabolize stored fat. On top of my workouts, dehydration wasn't going to do anything for weight loss so I had to get in more. Some surgeons tell their patients that protein shakes count towards their water totals and since water is in the shake, it makes sense but I believe (and have always believed) that regular water is the best to meet water needs. My workouts started off slow because my surgeon has a sort of vesting schedule for workouts. At two weeks, she only allows walking. At three, speed walking, and it progresses from there. At three weeks, I felt fine. I had no more aches and pains so I went ahead full speed. Pre-op, I was a runner and frequently used HIIT training. I transitioned back into those forms of exercise. I gave myself about 4 days to adapt and then increased the running by about 15-20 extra minutes (about another 1.5 miles). I also reintegrated strength training. The increase in my workouts warranted the increase in my total calories. I was never given a calorie level to maintain by the NUT. In fact, she said not to count calories but to just eat according to the sleeve. The 450-500 calories I had been getting just is not conducive to long-term functionality and it was causing me to retain water. Over the course of a week or so, I increased my calories in a number of ways. For example, for breakfast, I would have a serving of turkey sausage crumbles. I started to add one serving of shredded mozzarella to it for an additional 80 calories and 6g of protein. Lastly, I increased carbs. On my plan, I cannot have raw fruit or vegetables until 6 weeks out. I can, have canned veggies and fruit though. I found some "No Sugar Added" canned fruit that has 30 calories and 6 grams of carbs per serving (1/2 can). I started eating a few slices of the fruit (because I can't manage a 1/2 can) with my protein at lunch. I'm not 100% certain about the science behind this but since our bodies need glycogen and the need to glycogen is one reason that stalls happen, I figured introducing some carbohydrates through food would help my body get what it needs without prolonging the stall. I just started doing this over the last week and apparently it worked because I lost 1.2 pounds between yesterday morning and this morning. As a final note, my surgeon's nurse practitioner explained that with the sleeve, they usually see stair step weight loss. She noted that most people will lose a large amount of weight and then level off for a week or two and then lose another lump of weight throughout the process. Although I'd like to see a weekly decrease in weight consistently, I'll take the alternative as long as my total body composition is changing. My NSV (inspite of the stall), is that I'm back at The GAP! Here's to a fashionable fall.

Nectar is okay. I have the Fuzzy Navel and the Truffle. The thing is that whey protein has a very distinctive taste and no matter how "fruity" you'll still taste the twinge of whey. I mix my Fuzzy Navel with Blue Raspberry Amino Fuel and I can still taste it but it's better. But, I'd never tell anyone that the Nectars taste like juice because...they don't.

Uhm...doctors speak in terms of what the literature tells them. A bunch of numbers and averages. Think of what would happen if he told you you'd lose 120lbs and you topped out at 80lbs. You'd probably be disappointed and think he had something to do with it. In reverse, if he tells you you'll only lose 80lbs. and you end up losing 120lbs., you are pleasantly surprised and he looks like a hero. If it's any consolation, I know of plenty of people who have lost ALL of their excess weight with the sleeve; and many of them had to lose waaaaaaaay more than 120lbs. At the end of the day, it's what you make of it.

Well, I'm not a diabetic (never have been) but I'm 5 weeks out and have definitely had several episodes. Now I'm in a predicament where every three hours, I have to put something on my stomach or I feel like crap.

Does she have an e-mail address? I'd try that.

I stalled in weight but I notice I also got smaller at the same time. I'd check my measurements if I were you.

Tell your doctor but besides pangs, how do you feel when you are hungry? For example, I know some people online sit up and act like they've never been hungry another day since surgery but I've never had blood sugar issues before and now I find myself not only with hunger pangs but feeling like I'm going to pass out if I go more than 3 hours without something on my stomach. Then again, I'm more active than the average person. Could that be it in your case? The bright side is that as early out as you are, I don't see where you could do damage when you probably can't get in 2 oz. in one sitting anyway (at least I couldn't at 7 days post-op). But if your doctor is saying you shouldn't be hungry, then definitely talk to them about it and to make sure they aren't moving you up the ladder too quickly.

The answer: life isn't fair.

That's likely why it's in the "rants and raves" section.

Carbs? Calories? Fat?